pearce



E. s. PEARCE 1,807,600

Filed June 16, 1927 l 2 sheets-sheet 1 June 2, 1931.4

APPARATUS FOR IMPHEGNATING FIBRQUS MATERIL WITH LIQUIDS 1 l gz- /NVETO/eA TTORNE Y I June 2, 1931. E. s. PEARCE 1,807,600

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING FIBROUS MATERIAL WITH LIQUIDS Filed June 16,1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A www.

A TTORNEY Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWIN S.PEARCE, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA* Application led June 16,

My invention relates to apparatus for impreo'nating fibrous materialswith liquids.

he apparatus embodying the invention is particularly adapted foremployment in the impregnation of fibrous waste material with oil orother liquid lubricant for use as journal box packing, but it also is ofgreat value and utility 1n the impregnation of fibrous materials ofvarious kinds with liquids. For example, it may be used to greatadvantage in the impregnation of cotton, wool and silk fibres withliquid dyes in the operation of dyeing the same. Other uses and purposesof the invention will suggest themselves as the description proceeds.

The invention will be described with rela-l tion to its use for effectinthe impregnation of fibrous waste with oil or use as a ]ournal boxpacking, it being understood that the principle of operation enunciatedis the same whether the apparatus be employed for that purpose or forother purposes to and for which the invention may be adapted.

The invention is adapted for use in the .25 treatment either of newwaste fibrous material, of fibrous material which previously has beenused as journal box packin -but which has been cleaned, or a mixture opreviously used cleaned fibrous material and new material.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus bythe employment of which the fibrous material may be more completely anduniformly impregnated with a liquid, such as oil, than heretofore hasbeen practicable; and to effect such impregnation most economicall Italso is an object of t e invention to provide an apparatus of novelconstruction lncluding means whereby the immersion of the fibrousmaterial within the impregnating liquid, such as oil or other liquidlubricant, liqlillid dyes, or other liquids is effected grad.- ua y andin proportion to the normal release and escape of air from within thebody of fibrous mass.

l Another .object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of novelconstruction comlpris'ing an `impregnating tank orlreceptacle aving apiston which is adapted to operate 1927. Serial No. 199,229.

therein which is provided with novel means for retarding the descendingmovement of the piston into the said tank or receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an` apparatus comprisinga plurality of impregnating means arranged in juxta-relation to eachother which are adapted tobe employed alternately to effect impregnationof brous materials whereby the operations are facilitated and economytherein effected.-

The foregoing are some of the objects of the invention but it will beunderstood that there are many other objects and advantages incident tothe invention which will be int. ed out in the detailed descriptiontligreof which follows or will become apparent from such description.

In order that the invention may be easily understood and its practicaladvantages fully appreciated reference may be had tothe accompanyingdrawings in which I have illustrated one practical form of embodiment ofapp-aratus provided with the invention. However, it will be understoodthat the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms ofapparatus than that illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in verticalsection of an apparatus embodying theinvention and by which the method invented by me may be practised;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in top plan of a portion of the structureshown in igs. 1 and -2 and in which certain details of construction aremore clearly shown;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3 but with certain partsin different poslitionzsa from those in which they are shown 1n 1g.

Fig. 5 isa vertical sectional view showing a fragmentary portion of thestructure, said view ieing taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; an

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the line 6-6 of. Fig. 4.

In the drawings I have shown a. couple of impregnation tanks 1 and 2supported upon lli beams 3, the supports for which are omitted. However,they may be supported in any suitable manner and by any suitable means.I have shown in both tanks 1 and 2 a mass of liquid 4. If the apparatusis being employed for impregnating Waste fibrous material for use asjournal box packing then the liquid 4 will consist of a suitablelubricant such as oil or grease. If, however, the apparatus is beingemployed for other purposes the character or kind of liquid within thetanks or receptacles 1 and 2 will be changed or varied accordingly. Forexample, if the apparatus is being employed for dyeing yarns or fabricsthe liquid 4 would consist of a liquid dye of the desired color. It willbe assumed that the liquid 4 within the tanks or receptacles 1 and 2 isoil and that the apparatus is bein' employed for the impregnation ofWaste brous material for use as journal box packing. The mass-of fibrousmaterial 5 is shown in the tank 1 above the oil 4 therein.

The oil is adapted to be supplied to the tanks 1 and 2 through valvecontrolled spigots or nozzles 6 and 7 located above the respective tanks1 and 2. These nozzles are in communication with a cross pipe 8 to whichthe oil is supplied through a pipe 9 from a source of supply not shown.

For the purpose of causing or effecting immersion of the fibrousmaterial 5 in the impregnating oil 4 I have provided a piston comprisinga reticulated bottom 15 having at its outer peripheral edge an upwardlyextending fiange 16 having ancinward extension 17, the presence of whichproduces a relatively wide upper edge, as is shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. A plate 18 is secured to the upper edge of the fiange 16 bymeans of a series of screw bolts 2() annularly arranged. For the purposeof rendering the joint between the plate 18 and the upper ed e of theflange 16 air-tight a packing or was er ring 21 of suitable material isprovided the outer edge portion of which is bent and extended upwardlyas indicated at 22 and bears against the adjoining opposing side of thetank in which the piston may be located as shown in the drawings. Screwbolts 2O are provided with nuts 23 by means of which the plate 18 isclamped against the packing or washer ring 21. Clips 25 are mounted uponthe upper ends of the screw bolts 20, bein held thereon by means of nuts26 and 27. he said clips 25 are in parallel spaced relation to the plate18 and project outwardly from the screw bolts 20. An expansible annularmember 34 is mounted within the space between the clips 25 and theopposingI edge portion of the plate 18. The said member 30 extendsaround and incloses the annular series of screw bolts 20. Its oppositeends normally occupy positions in contiguous relation to each other asshown at 31 in Fig'. 3 of the drawings. The said member 30 is providednear or in adjoining relation to its opposite ends with opposingshoulders 32 and 33 between which is located a rotatable cam block 34which is mounted upon and rigidly connected with a vertical rod 35rotatably secured in the top plate 18. The upper end of the rod 35 isbent laterally as indicated at 36 to form a' handle by means of whichrotation of the' said rod 35 and of the cam block 34 may be effected.The cam block 34 is of rectangular shape, as shown in Fig. 3 of the'drawings, so that when it occupies a position with its major axisextending radially of the expansible member 30 the ends of the latterare permitted to occupy positions contiguous to each other, as shown inthe said Fig. When it is desired to effect movement of the ends of themember 30 away from each other to the positions shown in Fig. 4 the camblock 34 may be turned into a position at right angles to that in whichit is shown in Fig. 3. The opposite ends of the said block contact withand act against the shoulders 32 and 33 to effect movement of the endsof the said member away from each other thereb effecting a separatingaction thereof to etlect expansion of the said melnber and compress andslightly flatten the tubular endless hose member 40 into oblong shape incross. section as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The expansible member 30 is provided upon its lower edge with anoutwardly extending lange 41 upon which the endless hose member 40`rests. The said member 4() is retained in placeby the clips 25 to whichprevious reference has been made. The outer side of the compressiblehose 4() is located in contact with the outer up-turned edge 22 of thepacking or washer ring 21 previously referred to and when the member 30is expanded as shown in Fi 4 of the drawings the hose 40 is compresseand exerts considerable pressure against the upwardly extending portion22 of the packing ring 2l to hold it rmly and with considerable forceagainst the opposing side of the tank 1 or 2 within which the piston maybe located.

The cover plate 18 constituting a part of the piston structure isprovided at its center with an upwardly extending hollow projection 50provided upon its upper end with a hook or eye 51 which is connected tothe lower end of a chain 5,2 supported upon a pulley 53 which in turn issuspended from and supported upon a carriage 54 which is adapted totravel back and forth upon the beam 55 supported at its opposite endsupon uprights or standards 56 which rise from the beams 3, as indicatedin Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be apparent that when it is desiredto shift the piston from' one to the other of the tanks 1 vand 2 suchshifting may be effected by operating the chain 52. to elevate thepiston into position above the tolps of the said tanks or receptaclesafter W ich the carriage 54 may be caused to travel along the bar 55into proper position over the other of the tanks;

For the purpose of removing air and other gases from the tanks l and 2 Ihave provided exhausting means comprising pipes and 6l which projectfrom the centers of the bottoms of the tanks 1 and 2 upwardly therein.Each of the said pipes 60 and 61 is in alinement with the opening in theprojection 50 when the piston is in position within the tank withinwhich said pipe may be located and they are also in alinement with anopening 62 in the reticulated bottom 15 of the piston. It may be notedhere that the bottom 15 is strengthened against distortion due topressure or other causes by means of a plate 63 seated against the upperside of the central portion thereof. Braces 64 extend between saidplateand the outer portion of the piston structure as shown. The plate63 is provided with a central opening 65 in registry with the opening 62in the bottom 15 of the piston structure. The pipes 60 and 61 are incommunication at their lower ends with ends of branch pipes 67 and 68the opposit-e ends of which are connected with the opposite ends of ashort pipe 70 to the center of which a pipe 71 is connected the outerend of which is in communication with a vacuum pump, a portion of whichis shown at 72 in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. Valves are provided at73 and 74 in the pipe 70 on opposite sides of the point of connection ofthe pipe 71 thereto so that when the impregnation process is beingcarried out in one of the tanks 1 or 2 the ipe leading to the other tankmay be closed. l' In other words, in the operation of the apparatus asillustrated the valves at 73 and l74 would be alternately opened andclosed.

' Valves are provided at 75 which areadapted to be opened and closed tocontrol communication between the interior of a tank and the atmospherewhen a piston is in place in the said tank. For instance, after thecompletion of an`impregnation operation and it is desired to remove orwithdraw the piston from a tank, it is desirable not only that thevalves at 75 be opened but also that the cam block 34 be turned into theposition as shown in Fig. 3 in order that the pressure of the upwardlyextending portion 22 of the packing' ring 21 against the adjoiningopposing side of the tank be -reduced as much as may be possible. Suchreduction in pressure will permit the ready removal of the piston from atank to permit its transfer into operative relation to the adjoiningtank.

A gage, as indicated at 80, is provided in order that the amount of airor other gas pressure within the tank in which the impregnation processis being carried out may be ascertained. Such pressure in the operationof the apparatus in the carryin out of the process would be less thanatmosperic pressure.

It will be noted that the nozzles or spigots 6 and 7 are located inpositions abovethe respective tanks 1 and 2 so that the oil '(or otherliquid) may be readily discharged thereinto as ma be desired.

In the operatlon of the apparatus a quan tity of oil or other liquidlubricant necessary for the requisite or required extent of impregnationof a given quantity of waste fibrous material which is to be impregnatedthereby is placed in a tank or receptacle, for example, the tank orreceptacle 1 of the drawings. The fibrous material is then placed in thetank on top of the oil as shown in Fig. 1. Thereafter the piston ismoved into position over the said tank and lowered thereinto. The valvesvat 75 may be retained in open position until the reticulated bottom 15of the piston contacts'with the fibrous material 5 superposed upon theliquid 4 in the tank or rece tacle, whereupon they should be closed.evacuating the air and other gases', 1f any be present, from the tank orreceptacle, through the pipe 60 by the operation of the vacuum pump 72is thene begun.

It will be understood that the cam block 34 has in the meantime beenturned into the position shown in Fig. 4 whereby the hose or otherequivalent member 40 is pressed against the upwardly extending portion22 o the packing ring or washer 21, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.Upon withdrawal of the air and other gases from the tank so that thepressure thereof in the said tank is less than atmospheric the tendency.of the piston is to descend, but such tendency is opposed by theretarding action of the frict1on between the upwardly extending portion22 and the side of the ltank 1 against which it contacts. Furthermore,the air and other gases first removed from the tank may be regarded asfree air or gas and may be replaced or partially replaced by air and gas(if any be present) released not only from the waste material 5 but alsofrom the oil 4. However, as the evacuation process continues the pistondescends. The rate at which the air and other gases are withdrawn orevacuated from the tank should be such as to cause the piston to descendat a rate pro-V portional to the normal release and escape of air andother gases from the fibrous material 5. The ideal condition inoperation would be that in which as the waste material descends in theoil all of the air and gas in said material is displaced so that onlythat portion of the material above 'the level of the oil would containany air or gas. If the batch of fibrous material were caused to descendtoo rapidly through the oil it mightv e operation of removing or'present therein bubbles or globules of air which thereafter might not bereleased at all or the release and escape thereof might take place veryslowly, thereby necessitating a longer period for the treatment of agiven quantity of material.

It may be noted that the pressure of the part 22 against the wall of thetank 1 increases as the pressure of the air and other gases within thesaid tank decreases. In other words, as the difference between thepressure of the air and gas in the tank 1 and external atmosphericpressure increases the pressure exerted by the portion 22 against theinner surface of the wall of the tank 1 increases.

By causing the immersion of the waste material in the oil (or otherimpregnation li uid) at a rate proportional to the normal re ease andescape of the bubbles or globules of air (or other gas if any bepresent) from the mass of waste material, a more complete removal of theair and other gas from the said mass is brought about and a morecomplete impregnation thereof with the oil or other liquid 1s effected.It is important to avoid the entrapment and entraining of bubbles orglobules of air within the mass of waste material as it descends intothe impregnating liquid, such as oil.

Durlng the period that a body r mass of material is being impregnated inone tank the other tank can be supplied with the requisite uantity ofoil (or other li uid) and waste brous or other material. pon completionof the impregnation in one tank the valves thereof at 75 are opened andthereupon the chain 52 is operated to remove the lston from said tank,whereupon it may e transferred into position over the other tank andpermitted to descend thereinto and the operation therein carried out asin the previous or first named tank. The o erations in the tanks are ormay be carrie out alternately in the manner as hereinbefore indicated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the comblnation of areceptacle adapted to receive a liquid and fibrous material to beimpregnated by the said liquid, a piston which is adapted to operate inthe said receptacle, which piston is provided at its outer upper edgewith an upwardly extending flexible fiange-like portion, means forexerting lateral outward pressure against the said upwardly extendingportion to increase the friction of the same against the inner surfaceof the side wall of said receptacle, means for releasing said pressure,and means for effccting evacuation of air from said receptac e.

2. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a receptacle within which fibrousmaterial is adaptedto be impregnated with a liquid, a piston for said receptacle, whichpiston isprovided at its outer edge with an upwardly extending flexibleportion which contacts with the inner surface of the side wall of thesaid receptacle, a flexible member supported upon said piston inwardlyof and in contiguous relation to the said upwardly extendlng portion,and means also carried by said piston and adapted to exert outwardpressure against the said flexible member to force the same against thesaid upwardly extending portion.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combmation of areceptacle within which a fibrous mass is adapted to be impregnated witha liquid, a piston for the said receptacle, which piston is provided atits peripheral edge lwith an upwardly extending flexible portion which.contacts with the inner surface of the Wall of the said receptacle, aflexible hose supported in contiguous relation to the inner surface ofthe said portion, and expansible means mounted upon the said piston andadapted to effect pressure against the said flexible hose to force itagainst the said upwardly extending portion.

4. Apparatus for impregnating fibrous material with a liquid comprisinga receptacle having an open top into which the fibrous material isadapted to be placed for impregnation, a piston, means adapted to effectmovement of the said piston into and from position in the open top ofsaid receptacle and to release the same to permit downward movementthereof in said receptacle under the influence thereon of gravity andexternal atmospheric pressure, and means for retarding the downwardmovement of the said piston in the said receptacle.

5. Apparatus for impregnating fibrous material with a liquidcomprisingla rece tacle having an open top through whic the fibrousmaterial may be inserted, means for delivering liquid into the saidreceptacle for the impregnation of said fibrous material, a piston, andmeans for moving said piston into and from position in the open top ofsaid receptacle and for releasing the same therein, the said pistonbeing adapted to move downwardly in said receptacle under the infiuenceof gravity and external atmospheric pressure.

6. Apparatus for impregnating fibrous material with a liquid comprisinga receptacle having an open top through which the fibrous materlal to beimpregnated is inserted, means for delivering liquid to the saidreceptacle for the impregnation of said fibrous material, a piston,means adapted to move said piston into and from the open top of saidreceptacle and to release the same therein to permit downward movementthereof in the said receptacle under the influence of gravity andexternal atmospheric pressure, and means for l withdrawing air from thesaid receptacle to facilitate downward movement of sald piston t and theimpregnation of the brous material with the liquid.

7. Apparatus for impregnating fibrous material wlth a liquid comprisinga receptacle having an opening through which the fibrous material to beimpregnated may be inserted into the said'receptacle, means for,delivering a liquid into the said receptacle for impregnating the saidbrous material, a piston, means adapted' to move the said' piston intoand from the opening in said receptacle and for releasing the sametherein to permit downward movement thereof in sa1d receptacle under theinfluence of gravity and external atmospheric pressure, means forwithdrawing gases from the said receptacle, and means for retarding thedownward movementv of said piston in the said receptacle.

8. .Apparatus for 'impregnating fibrous material with a liquidcomprising a receptacle having an open top through which the fibrousmaterial may be inserted, means for delivering liquid into the saidreceptacle for the impregnation of said fibrous material, a piston,means for moving said piston into and from position in the open top ofsaid receptacle and for releasing the same therein, the said pistonbeing adapted to move downwardly in said receptacle under the iniiuenceof gravity and external atmospheric pressure, and means for retardingthe downward movement of said piston. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereuntosigned my name this 11th day of June, 1927.

EDWIN S. PEARCE.

